A magnitude 3.9 earthquake centred in Burbank sent light shaking across the Los Angeles region on Sunday night, with no reports of significant damage or injuries.
The earthquake struck at 10:13 p.m. and was felt most strongly near the epicentre, located along the 900 block of North Ford Street in Burbank, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
The shaking, classified as "light" on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale, caused minor disturbances such as rattling dishes and windows, and was likened to the impact of a heavy truck hitting a building.
The tremors were felt across a broad area, including the San Fernando Valley, the Los Angeles Basin, and the San Gabriel Valley. Local authorities in Burbank reported feeling the earthquake but confirmed there were no immediate calls for assistance or signs of damage.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 9.5 miles, about one mile from Los Angeles, two miles from Glendale, and four miles from both Beverly Hills and West Hollywood.
This tremor adds to a history of smaller earthquakes in the region, with an average of five quakes of magnitude 3.0 to 4.0 reported annually in Greater Los Angeles.
On the other hand, firefighters in North and South Carolina battled dozens of wildfires over the weekend, with dry and windy conditions prompting authorities to issue evacuation orders and declare a state of emergency.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster declared the state of emergency on Sunday as wildfires continued to rage across the state.
Officials had previously declared a statewide burn ban, which McMaster confirmed would remain in effect indefinitely due to the critical fire weather conditions.
One of the most significant fires, the Carolina Forest Fire near Myrtle Beach, S.C., has scorched around 1,600 acres. By Sunday evening, the fire was 30% contained, and residents were allowed to return home.
In North Carolina, officials also issued evacuation orders in response to the 176 Fire in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The fire had burned over 500 acres by Sunday evening and was also 30% contained. Evacuations were expected to continue, with a decision on lifting orders scheduled for Monday.
The National Weather Service warned that the dry, windy conditions were contributing to critical fire weather across the region.
Fire weather concerns were also reported across eastern New Mexico and far western Texas, where the NWS issued further warnings for gusty winds coupled with dry conditions.
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